Chat Group Allocation in Online Multiplayer Sessions

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Solution Overview

Problem

In online multiplayer games, players face challenges in efficiently chatting with each other during sessions, which detracts from the gaming experience.

Innovation Solution

An information processing device with a session management section to hold member identification information, an allocation section to allocate members to chat groups, and a chat management section to determine communication partners within the session, facilitating efficient chat data exchange among players.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If players chat with each other in online multiplayer games, then communication efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases due to session management and chat group allocation mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication efficiencyVSAvoidsession management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the session management system into distinct functional modules: a session management section that handles session creation and member management, an allocation section that manages chat group assignments, and a chat management section that handles communication. This segmentation allows each module to operate independently, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining communication efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an allocation section as an intermediary component between the session management section and the chat management section. This intermediary automatically allocates members to appropriate chat groups based on game parameters, eliminating the need for complex direct peer-to-peer communication management and simplifying the overall system architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If dynamic chat group allocation is implemented, then ease of operation is improved, but loss of information increases due to frequent group reconfigurations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechat group allocation easeVSAvoidchat history loss
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary allocation of members to chat groups based on game parameters before actual communication begins. By pre-establishing appropriate group configurations based on predicted game states, the system minimizes the need for frequent reconfigurations during gameplay, thereby preserving chat history and reducing information loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic chat group allocation that adapts to changing game parameters while maintaining continuity. The allocation section monitors game state changes and smoothly transitions members between groups based on updated parameters, ensuring that communication flows remain intact and chat history is preserved across transitions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS12011669B2Information processing device and chatting method
Publication Date: 2024.06.18 SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT LLC
  • US12011669B2 patent drawing
  • US12011669B2 patent drawing
  • US12011669B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A session management section 126 holds respective pieces of identification information of a plurality of members who join a session of an application. An allocation section 134 allocates a member to a chat group. A chat management section 114 acquires the identification information of each member who belongs to the chat group created in the session, and determines a member who becomes a partner for communicating chat data, for each member.